{"id":"01KG6G87B1JXQVTK2N4GTRQRJF","cid":"bafkreiewwfwsfxvsfbjy6kvluogi52lnsgxt2ho7amrne6jajsw3kes3pq","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":2941,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T03:48:16.150Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 10","source_file":"01KG6FXSCNX5F3D880P3YP3PKR","start_line":2874,"text":"Their captain’s announcement was listened to by the throng of standing\r\nsailors in a dumbness like that of a seated congregation of believers in\r\nHell listening to their clergyman’s announcement of his Calvinistic\r\ntext.[5]\r\n\r\nAt the close, however, a confused murmur went up. It began to wax all\r\nbut instantly, then at a sign, was pierced and suppressed by shrill\r\nwhistles of the boatswain and his mates piping, ‘Down one watch.’[6]\r\n\r\nTo be prepared for burial Claggart’s body was delivered to certain petty\r\nofficers of his mess. And here, not to clog the sequel with lateral\r\nmatters, it may be added that at a suitable hour, the master-at-arms was\r\ncommitted to the sea with every funeral honour properly belonging to his\r\nnaval grade.\r\n\r\nIn this proceeding, as in every public one growing out of the tragedy,\r\nstrict adherence to usage was observed. Nor in any point could it have\r\nbeen at all deviated from, either with respect to Claggart or Billy\r\nBudd, without begetting undesirable speculations in the ship’s company,\r\nsailors, and more particularly man-of-war’s men, being of all men the\r\ngreatest sticklers for usage.\r\n\r\nFor similar cause all communication between Captain Vere and the\r\ncondemned one ended with the closeted interview already given, the\r\nlatter being now surrendered to the ordinary routine preliminary to the\r\nend. This transfer under guard from the captain’s quarters was effected\r\nwithout unusual precautions--at least no visible ones.\r\n\r\nIf possible, not to let the men so much as surmise that their officers\r\nanticipate aught amiss from them, is the tacit rule in a military ship.\r\nAnd the more that some sort of trouble should really be apprehended, the\r\nmore do the officers keep that apprehension to themselves; though not\r\nthe less unostentatious vigilance may be augmented.\r\n\r\nIn the present instance the sentry placed over the prisoner had strict\r\norders to let no one have communication with him but the chaplain. And\r\ncertain unobtrusive measures were taken absolutely to ensure this point.\r\n\r\n-----\r\n\r\nFootnote 5:\r\n\r\n  Melville’s MS. contains at this point the words ‘Jonathan Edwards’ in\r\n  brackets. Clearly Melville had in mind the great New England Calvinist\r\n  preacher and theologian when he was writing this sentence.\r\n\r\nFootnote 6:\r\n\r\n  There is an author’s note in the margin of the MS. reading:--_Another\r\n  order to be given here in place of this one._\r\n\r\n------------------------------------------------------------------------\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n                                   XX\r\n\r\n\r\nIn a seventy-four of the old order the deck known as the upper gun-deck\r\nwas the one covered over by the spar-deck, which last, though not\r\nwithout its armament, was for the most part exposed to the weather. In\r\ngeneral it was at all hours free from hammocks; those of the crew\r\nswinging on the lower gun-deck and berth-deck, the latter being not only\r\na dormitory but also the place for the stowing of the sailors’ bags, and\r\non both sides lined with the large chests or movable pantries of the\r\nmany messes of the men.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 10"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG6G6PJNH5QCRX73H14BH0PF","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG6FXSCNX5F3D880P3YP3PKR","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG2T49K0H5GDRB0G4YDTPG8H","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG6G86NYRY35SZPEJAT4RWV4","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG6G87AWF2684169BVWMW53M","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T03:48:19.425Z","ts":"2026-01-30T03:48:25.805Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}